Camp with a cause
Children with autism are spending this summer learning new skills.
By TRAVINA COLEMAN
Press Staff Writer
At Camp Grey Squirrel, coordinators are committed to making every effort to provide a variety of activities based on the expressed interests from the parents or guardians and the kids. It is part of the mission of Camp Grey Squirrel to provide as many activities as possible at very little to no cost to the families. The camp is residential by the week, but will also offer play groups and other trips.
Hamon hopes for more sponsors so the bigger plan can happen sooner.
“We just joined the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce,” she said. “And we will be having lots of activities to raise money coming this year. The camp will grow.”
In the future, the camp plans to offer equine, martial arts, music, arts and crafts, and other therapies year-round to children with ASDs with the financial help from sponsors.
They are working with the local university, Northeastern State University, to have students majoring in special education and any of the therapies work with our kids under the guidance of their faculty, Hamon said.
“There is a support group for autism in Tahlequah,” she said. “But there is no camp like the one we have.”
Hamon said the closest she knows of is in Texas and Colorado.
“We need something here,” she said. “Something all children struggling with it here in Oklahoma.”
Corri Horsechief and his brother, Garret, were two of the five campers who came out to the inaugural event.
“I like it,” he said. “My brother likes it a lot. He gets a lot out of it.”
The Horsechiefs are from Tahlequah.
Another camper who was having a great time was Lisan Tiger. He sat working quietly on his clay sculpture before lunch.
The camp was hosted by the United Methodist Boys Ranch, and was treated to lunch from Fin and Feather Resort and Soda Steve’s.
Steve Pool donated all the campers’ meals.
“It’s something we could do,” he said. “We are happy to come out and do what we can. This is an important camp and we thought we could help.”